Monthly Archives: August 2017

Some Thoughts on The Prince and Game of Thrones

Posted on 2017/08/20 by J.W.J. Bowden

George R.R. Martin confirms in this BBC documentary, “Who’s Afraid of Machiavelli?” that The Prince heavily influenced his writing of A Song of Ice and Fire and the general depiction of political intrigue amongst the lords of Westeros. Some of … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts on an Old Metaphor: From the Ship of State to The Armada of State

Posted on 2017/08/19 by J.W.J. Bowden

In Book VI of The Republic, Plato likened governing a polis to piloting a ship. Plato’s interlocutor, Socrates, invoked this ancient parable to explain why the ship’s unassuming star-gazing navigator represents the philosopher-king who possesses the best qualities — namely, … Continue reading →

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A Review of the Play 1979 and Joe Clark’s Legacy

Posted on 2017/08/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

Structure and Overview of 1979 On 28 April 2017, I saw 1979, a play written by the capable Michael Healey about the events leading to the defeat of Joe Clark’s short-lived ministry. The play took place at the Great Canadian … Continue reading →

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